Orthopedic pin guiding device



Mar h 1965 R. P. CHILDS ET AL ORTHOPEDIC PIN GUIDING DEVICE Filed March29, 1963 Fical FlC-S.7

Pie. 3

5 Q5 o mufvE T cL vlzmfi mo m 0 l m DQKAY B ATTORNEY 3,171,408GRTHOPEDIC PIN GUKDING DEVEQE Robert P. Childs, 4728 Homer Ave,Washington, l).C.;

Ray J. Hall, 12460 E. 31st Ave, Aurora, Colin; and

Austin D. Potenza, Silver Spring, Md. (66 Pine t.,

Garden City, NY.)

Filed Mar. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 259,221 3 Claims. (til. 128S3) (Grantedunder Title 35', US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention describedherein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government forgovernmental pur poses without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

In orthopedic surgery it is frequently desirable to drive a plurality ofsurgical pins into a segment of bone in such a manner that the pins areparallel to one another. Some orthopedic pins have a nut on one endwhich is an integral part of the pin and cannot be removed from the pinwithout destroying desirable mechanical properties of the pin assembly.Where orthopedic pins have enlargements or nuts at their distalextremities, the prior art fails to teach a satisfactory device forguiding the entry of these pins, yet allowing the removal of such aguide after the pins have been positioned. Where a device with multipleparallel channels is used the channels must fit snugly enough around theshaft portion of the pins in order to guide them in a parallel fashioninto the bone. But where the channels are snug enough for such guidingthey are too small to allow removal of the device over the enlargedportion of the pin.

It is therefore an object of the instant invention to provide anorthopedic pin guiding device which can he removed after having servedits function of guiding the entry of the pin into its desired position.

A second object of this invention is to provide in an orthopedic pinguiding device which can be removed after use, guide means for two ormore sizes of orthopedic pins.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart upon examination of the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a section of the base portion of this device;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the guide disk of this device;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base portion shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the base portion showing the guide disk inoperating position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the guide disk;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical section of the preferred embodiment assembled.

Briefly, this invention comprises a base portion having two generallycircular coplanar disks rigidly connected along a portion of itscircumference. Each of these disks is provided with a plurality ofcylindrical parallel coaxial channels which are drilled to correspond indiameter with at least one size of common orthopedic pin. Each of thesechannels in the coplanar disks is connected to a larger channelcorresponding with the size of the enlargement at the end of theorthopedic pin in such a way as to provide that an orthopedic pincorresponding in size to the smaller channel and resting in the smallerchannel would, upon rotation of the base portion, be transferred fromthe smaller channel into the larger channel. At the diametricallyopposite side of the larger channel, another smaller channel may bedrilled through the base portion corresponding in each case with adiameter of a different size orthopedic pin.

Machined to slide rotatably between the two disks of the base portion isa guide disc having the same number of channels drilled therethrough insuch a way as, with rota- United States Patent tion of the guide disk,corresponding channels on the same diameter may be aligned to provide aperfectly enclosed, though sectional, channel of the appropriatediameter. The device may be locked in this position. Upon turning theguide disk this channel will open up, and at another given point thelarger channels will be aligned in order that the pin guide may beremoved over the enlarged portion of the end of an orthopedic pin. Ifthe pin guide is machined for two sizes of orthopedic pins, the secondsmall channel is at the diametrically opposite side of the largerchannel from the first small channel and can be aligned by furtherrotation of the guide disk. If the pin guide is drilled for two sizes oforthopedic pins, the guide disk will have two locking positions.

Positive locks can be provided at the appropriate positions by drillingthe guide and the base portion to receive a pin. The guide disk may berotated within the base portion around a spindle which spindle mayitself be axially drilled and be used to guide another orthopedic pin.The guide disk may be provided with a handle for adjustment and with anindicator means to show the operator which series of channels arealigned at a given point.

Referring in more detail to the drawings,

l, a vertical section of the base portion, shows the two parallel disksjoined along a portion of their circumference in a coplanar position.

PEG. 3 shows, in plan view, the base portion drilled for two sizes oforthopedic pins. The channels for the orthopedic pins are on oppositesides of a larger channel which is provided for removal over theenlarged end of the pin.

FIG. 4 shows in plan a guide disk 2 in working position with the baseportion 1. The orthopedic pin is held firmly in channels 13 and 12 atpoint 26 by the interrelationship of guide disk 2 and base portion 1respectively.

PEG. 5 shows the guide disk 2 with handle 4 and indicator 3. I should benoted that channels lid of guide disk 2 will correspond in size withchannel 11 of base portion 1; and that channels 13 of guide disk 2 willcorrespond with channels 12 of base portion 1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show in perspective and section respectively the assembledpin guide device with locking pin 6 and spindle 5. Locking pin 6 isinserted through channels 15 of pin guide 2 and 16 of base portion 1. Itwill be noted that there are two locking positions; one for each size oforthopedic pin. Indicator 3 is aligned with marks on base member 1 toshow the operator the various alignment positions.

The parts of this device should be made of surgical stainless steel.Spindle 5 is used not only as an axle upon which to turn guide disk 2but also to hold the assembly together. In practice, the channels onopposite sides of the large diameter channels may be of /8 inch and ofinch, respectively, to correspond with the more popular size orthopedicneedles.

The device is assembled by placing guide disk 2 into base portion 1 andthen inserting spindle 5 into the central cylindrical channels of thebase portion and the guide disk. The device may be locked in each of twopositions for two sizes of orthopedic pins.

in orthopedic practice the surgeon would insert a guide pin through thelateral cortex of the femur in the axial line of the neck of the femur.This could be done with a guide pin not having an enlarged end. Theinstant pin guide device can then be oriented by threading the deviceover the pin through the guide pin hole in spindle 5. The device is thenmarked in one of the two previously described positions depending uponthe diameter of the orthopedic pin. Pins are then inserted through theguides into the neck of the femur. When the enlarged ends of the pinshave nearly reached the top of the pin guide device and when all pinshave been inserted, the surgeon may then release the device from thelock pin and move the guide disk handle 4 to the neutral position thusorient- .pedic pins of predetermined size comprising a base portionhaving two generally circular mutually spaced parallel disks rigidlyconnected along a portion of their circumference, each of said disksbeing provided with a plurality of coaxial pairs of cylindrical parallelchannels normal of coaxial pairs of cylindrical parallel channels normalto said disks and drilled to accept orthopedic pins of a first Ypredetermined size and a plurality of coaxial pairs of cylinto saiddisks and drilled to accept the orthopedic pins of V predetermined sizeeach of said channels connected to a larger channel so that uponrotation of said base portion, a pin projecting through a smallerchannel would be trans ferred to said larger channel; an axial borethrough each of said disks of such diameter to accept a spindle'ofpredetermined size; aguide ,di-s'k slidably rotatably mounted betweensaid mutually spaced parallel disks and having correspondingly connectedchannels as the base disks but with the smaller channels connected tothe larger channels oppositely as the base disk whereby each of saiddrical parallel channels normal to said disks and drilled to correspondin diameter with a second size of orthopedic pins, each of said channelsbeing disposed on'opposite sides of alarger channel and connected tosaid larger channel whereby upon rotation of said base portion apinprojecting through'a smaller channel will be transferred to said largerchannel; a guide diskslidably and rotatably mounted between saidmutually spaced parallel disks and having correspondinglyconnectedchannels as the base disks but with the channels accepting the firstpredetermined size of pins connected -to-the larger channelsopsmallerchannels of said base portion fora given size pin can, uponrotation in one direction, be made to form, in

conjunction with a channelof said guide disk, a perfect,

2. The orthopedic pin guide described in claim 1 wherein said spindlecontains a cylindrical channel bored axially to the diameter of anorthopedic pin.

3. The orthopedic pin guide described'in claim 1 further includingrotation handle means for said guide disk;

4. The orthopedic, pin guide described in claim 1 further includingindicator means for showing alignment of various'corresp onding channelcombinations. I Y

5. An orthopedic pin guide configured to receive orthopedic pins ofpredetermined size comprising a base portion having two generallycircular mutually spaced parallel disks rigidly connected along aportion of their circumference, each of said disks being provided with aplurality positely as the base disk whereby, upon rotation in onedirection said base disks form in conjunction with a set of channels ofsaid guide disk accepting the first predetermined size of pins, aperfect sectional cylinder, and upon rotation 'in the opposite directioncan be made to form a sectional cylinder with said larger channelscorresponding, and upon further rotation can be made to 'form a perfectsectional cylinder with said channels of said second sizevorthopedicpin'an axialbore through each of said disks of such diameter-to accept aspindle of predetermined size, a spindle mounted through the axial boreof said base portion and said guide disk; and locking means for said pinguide.

6. The orthopedic pin guide described 'in claim 5 further including acylindrical channel axially bored to the diameter of .an orthopedic, pinthrough said spindle.

7. The orthopedic pin guide of claim 5 further including rotationalhandle means for said guide disk.

8. The orthopedic pinguide described in claim 5 further includingindicator means for showing alignment of various cylindrical borecombinations.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,500,370 1 3/50McKibbin 128-92 2,531,734 11/50 Hopkins 12892 RICHARD A. GAUDET, PrimaryExaminer.

